France and Spain impose harsher penalties for mobile phone use while driving

From 1 June 2026 the Ardèche department in France will suspend drivers’ licences immediately if they use a mobile phone while committing another traffic offence. The suspension can last up to six months, with minimum periods of 15 days to one month depending on the seriousness of the breach. In the first day of enforcement, 67 drivers had their licences withdrawn, after 1,750 mobile‑phone infractions were recorded earlier in the year.

Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, reminds motorists that mounting a phone holder on the windshield or any position that blocks the driver’s view can be fined up to €200. The fine is classified as serious but does not carry points. The DGT advises placing holders on the dashboard or air‑vent grilles to avoid obstructing vision, noting that using the phone while driving itself incurs a €200 fine and points loss.